Ball catching and indicating device



Feb. 9, 1954 H. G. ATWELL 2,668,715

BALL CATCHING AND INDICATING DEVICE Filed Aprii 9, 1949 Patented Feb. 9, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BALL CATCHING AND INDICATING DEVICE Henry G. Atwell, Lake Villa, 111. Application April 9, 1949, Serial No. 86,439

6 Claims. (01. eve-102.1)

The invention relates generally to a ball catching device and, more particularly, to such a catching device and an indicating mechanism associated therewith.

The invention has among its objects the production of aball catching element and stand therefor which may be folded down upon the base, when the device is not in use, to form a relatively small, compact unit for the purposes of storage or shipment.

Another object of the invention is the production of such a catching device which is provided with means for indicating the accuracy with which a ball is thrown into the same, which indicating mechanism is relatively simple, very durable, and efficient for the purposes intended.

A further object of the invention is the production of an improved ball receiving structure and supporting means therefor.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious'to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

The present application is a continuation in part of my co-pending application, Serial No. 4130, filed January 24, 1948, now Patent Number 2,549,156.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters represent like or corresponding elements:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a ball catching device;

Fig. 2 is an end'elevational View of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1, with the ball catching member in folded position;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a ball catching device similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1, disclosing details of the indicating structure; and

Fig. 4 is a rear elevational view of the device illustrated in Fi 3.

The present invention is related to a ball catching device and indicating means therefor adapted to be used in combination with a ball throwing mechanism actuatable by a treadle, or other suitable means, spaced a distance from the ball The construction illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a base member I of tubular form having a ball throwing member 2 pivotally connected thereto by a pin 3 passing through the actuating arm 4 which carries the member 2. The arm 4 and member 2 may be actuated by any suitable means, such as the tape 5, or the like, operatively connected into the member 4 and, if desired, the arm 4 and member 2 may be normally maintained in the position illustrated in Fig. 1 bya suitable spring, not shown.

As disclosed in said co-pending application, carried by the base i is an elongated tubular supporting member 6 adapted to support the base i in operative position, the member 6 bein pivotally connected to the base 6 by a bolt I or other suitable means, whereby the membermay be rotated into alignment with the base I when not in use. Pivotally carried. on the base I, by means of a pin 8 or the like, is a supporting member or stand 9 having two upright side walls 19 connectedby an end wall ll, having a hole [2 therein adjacent its lower end through which a ball may pass from the rear side of the end 1 wall to the ball throwing member 2. The stand may be pivotally connected with the pin 8 at places adjacent the forward edges of the side wall H] of the stand to enable it to stand upright with the greater amount of the weight of the stand being to the rear of its pivot point,

whereby it will, when raised into an upright position tend to remain in such position.

Secured to the side Walls H) of the stand is a ball catching or receiving element, designated generally by the numeral l3, said ball catching element comprising a rearwardly bowed fabric sheet of material I4 which has a downwardly projecting portion l5 which extends by the end wall ll of the stand, and together with said end wall, forms a channel through which a ball caught by the bowed portion of the sheet of the material may gravitate to the bottom of the channel. An inclined wall l5 secured to the end wall H below the opening I2 therein, closes the bottom of the channel and directs a ball falling upon the inclined wall through the opening l2 in the end wall I I, where it lodges upon the ball throwing member 2. The edge of the bowed portion of the ball catching element is generally half round; below'the half round part, the side edges thereof are straight. The sheet of material is formed with a hem I6 along its edges through which extends a flexible metal strip I! having a half round part which terminates in upright legs secured to the side walls of the stand by screws or rivets l8.

To knock down the device, the member 6 is rotated into alignment with the base I, and the ball catching element is rotated about the pivot point 8 to the position illustrated in Fig. 2 and, as the member I? is of flexible material, the loop formed thereby may be elongated, whereby the overall Width of the folded device may be reduced.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the base member 2| is formed from a sheet of suitable material and is provided with a longitudinally extending semi-cylindrical channel 22 adapted to receive the adjacent end of the tube 23, which is suitably secured thereto by welding, or the like, with the wing portions 23 of the base member providing means for firmly supporting the device in operative position. Pivotally mounted on the base member 2! is a ball throwing actuating arm 25' corresponding to the arm 4 in the construction illustrated in Fig. 1 and having a ball holding member 2a secured to the free end of the arm. The arm 25 and ball holder 25 may be actuated by any suitable means, as for example, that illustrated in my co-pending application. Pivotally mounted on the base member I is a stand or supporting, member, indicated generally by the numeral 21, having a pair of spaced side walls 28 connected by an intermediate wall 23, the stand 2'! being pivotally connected to the base member 2! by rivets 30, or other suitable means, passing through the respective side Walls 28, and lugs or ears 3! struck up from the respective portions 24 of the base member, with the stand 28 being pivoted to the base member 21. adjacent the forward edges of the side walls 28 so that the weight of the stand and structure carried.

thereby will tend, to maintain the same, in upright position, the intermediate wall 29 being provided with a recess 32 of a size to receive the adjacent portion of the channel 22. also provided for interlocking the wall 29 with the channel 22, which in the construction illustrated, consists of a pair of. oppositely disposed, inwardly extending'projections 33 adapted to be positioned in slots 34 in the side portions of the channel 22. Thus, they projections 33 may be snapped into the apertures 34, providing additional means for retaining the stand 21- in upright position.

Secured to the side walls of the stand 21 is a ball receiving or catching member designated generally by thenumeral 35, having a rear, ball engaging wall 36, side walls 31, and top wall 38, the rear and side walls being provided with downwardly extending portions 39 and 4| respectively which, together with the end wall 29, forms a channel through which a ball may gravitate to the bottom of the channel. intermediate wall 29 is provided with an opening 42 therein below which is positioned an inclined wall 43, the latter being secured to the intermediate wall 29 and closes the bottom of the channel, whereby a ball entering the channel, upon striking the inclined wall 43, is di- Means is The rected through the opening 42 into the ballreceiving member 25. The side walls 31 and top wall 38 of the member 35 are formed along their free edges with a hem 44 in which is positioned a flexible metal strip 45, the free ends of which terminate in upright portions 45, secured to the side walls 28 of the stand 21 by rivets ll, or the like.

Positioned adjacent the rear face of the wall 33 of the ball receiving member 35 is a bell memmember 52 is secured to the wall 43 by any suitable means, such as rivets 55, or the like and in the construction illustrated, extends through a slot 56 in the flanged portion 5? of the wall 33, thereby reducing the supporting stresses on the rivets 55. The opposite end 58 of the member 52 is secured to the rear wall 36 of the ball receiving member 35 by a hollow rivet 59 and washers 51 positioned on opposite sides of the wall 35. Also mounted on the member 52 is a flat leaf spring 52 secured in the present instance to the member 52 by rivets 63, the free end of the'spring 62 being provided with a bell striking member 54, the spring 62 being provided with a hole 65 through which the stud 63 extends. Connected at one end to the spring 62 and extending through the hollow rivet 59 is an actuating rod 66 having securedto its free end a circular target member 61. when the target member 61 is struck by a ball thrown into the catching device, the impact of the ball upon the target member will move the latter toward the rear wall 35, thereby moving the spring 52 into the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, whereby member 64 will strike the bell 5|. It will be noted that, as'the member 52 is relatively flexible, it is free to bend rearwardly, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3,, so that the impact of the ball on the target member 6'! is absorbed by both the rear wall 36 and the member 52 and both are free to move rearwardly with the impact of the ball, either upon the target or the wall. Consequently, the ball will not tend to rebound out of the ball catch-.- ing member '35, but will drop into the channelat the bottom thereof- If desired, the'inner face of the rear wall 36 may be suitably marked by colored rings, or other means, to accent. the target member as well as marking the same to indicate;

a strike or ball, etc.

The device illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 may be I readily folded to a position such asv that shown in Fig. 2 by disengaging the projections. 33- from the channel 22 and rotating the stand 31 and member 35 and indicating mechanism into, a

position adjacent the base 2| and tube 23. Simi- Having thus described my invention, it is'ob 'vious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence, I do. not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact. form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described orusesmentioned. I

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: v 1. In a foldable ball catching device including an audible target means, the combination of a base-member, a flexible ball catching pocket,

means for supporting said pocket in an upright position including a rigid element, said target 3 :means operatively mounted with respectto said ball catching: pocket and said rigidselement,v said;

Thus

rigid element being pivoted to said base member pocket whereby the impact of a ball in the pocket is in a direction tending to maintain said pocket in an upright position, said pocket being rotatable I about said pivot to an inoperative position adjacent said base member.

2. In a foldable ball catching device, the combination of a--base--member, a flexible ball receiving member having a ball engageable rear wall means for foldably supporting said ball receiving member with said rear wall in a generally upright position, a flexible member positioned adjacent the rear face of said wall and movable with said ball receiving member from an upright operative position to an inoperative knocked down position, one end of said flexible member being connected to said supporting means and the other end to said wall, a bell and a striker therefor carried by said flexible member, a ball engageable target member positioned adjacent to the ball stopping face of said wall and movable relative thereto, and means extending through said wall operatively connecting said target member and striker whereby movement of said target member, responsive to the impact of a ball thereupon, is operative to move said striker into engagement with said bell.

3. In a folding ball catching device including an audible target means, the combination of a base member, a flexible ball receiving member having side walls, a top wall and a ball engageable rear wall, a flexible bail member connected to the free edges of said side and top walls, means for foldably supporting said bail and the rear wall of said ball receiving member in a generally upright position, said means comprising a stand having a pair of spaced side walls and an intermediate wall, said side wall being pivotally connected at points spaced from said intermediate wall to said base member, the free ends of said bail member being secured to the respective side walls of said stand adjacent said intermediate wall, means on the latter and said base member for locking said stand when in operative position to the base member, said ball receiving member extending downwardly adjacent said intermediate wall to form a ball passageway therebetween, said intermediate wall having an opening therein for the passage of a ball therethrough, means adjacent the bottom of said passageway for directing a ball therein through said opening, said target means operatively mounted with respect to said ball receiving member and said intermediate wall of said stand, and said stand and the structure carried thereby being rotatable about said pivotal connection to a position adjacent said base member.

4. In a folding ball catching device, the combination of a base member, a flexible ball receiving member having a ball engageable rear wall, a supporting structure for said ball receivin member having a pair of spaced side Walls and an intermediate wall, said side walls being pivotally connected at points spaced from said intermediate wall to said base member, a bail member, the free ends of which are connected to the respective side walls, operative to support said rear wall in a generally upright position, said intermediate Wall having means thereon releasably engageable with said base member for maintaining the structure in operative position, a flexible member positioned adjacent the rear face of said ball receiving member, one end of said flexible member being operatively connected to the intermediate wall of said supporting struc- -:i

ture' and the other end to said rear wall of. said ball receiving member, a bell carried by-saidflexible member, a spring element carried by the latter and having a bell striker thereon, a push rod operatively connected to said'spring element and extending through the rear wall of said ball receiving member, a ball engageable target member positioned adjacent to the ball engageable face of said rear wall, said target member being carried by said push rod and movable therewith, whereby movement of said target member responsive to the impact of a ball thereupon is operative to move said striker into engagement with said bell, and said supporting structure and the elements carried thereby being rotatable about said pivot points to a folded position adjacent said base member.

5. In a foldable ball catching device including an audible target means, the combination of a base member, a flexible ball receiving member having a ball engageable rear wall, a foldable supporting structure for said ball receiving member, a flexible member pivotally mounted on said base member positioned adjacent the rear face of said wall and movable with said ball receiving member from an upright operative position to an inoperative folded position, one end of said flexible member being operatively connected to said supporting structure and the other end to said rear wall of said ball receiving member, a bell carried by said flexible member, a spring element carried by the latter and having a bell striker thereon, a push rod operatively connected to said spring element and extending through the rear wall of said ball receiving member, a ball engageable target member positioned adjacent to the ball engageable face of said rear wall, said target member being carried by said push rod and movable therewith, whereby movement of said target member, responsive to the impact of a ball thereupon is operative to move said striker into engagement with said bell providing an audible target means.

6. In a foldable ball catching device including an audible target means, the combination of a base member, a flexible ball receiving member having a ball engageable rear wall, a foldable supporting structure for said ball receiving member having a pair of spaced side Walls and an.

intermediate wall, said side walls being swingably connected to said base member for folding said ball receiving member with respect to the base member, a bail member, the free ends of which are connected to the respective side walls, operative to support said rear wall in a generally upright position, a flexible member positioned adjacent the rear face of said ball receiving member and movable with said ball receiving member from an upright operative position to an inoperative folded position, one end of said flexible member being operatively connected to the intermediate wall of said supporting structure and the other end to said rear wall of said ball receiving member, a bell carried by said flexible member, a spring element carried by the latter and having a bell striker thereon, a push rod operatively connected to said spring element and extending through the rear wall of said ball receiving member, a ball engageable target member positioned adjacent to the ball engageable face of said rear wall, said target member being carried by said push rod and movable therewith, whereby movement of said target mem- HENRY G. ATWELL- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number D. 153,239 794,601 1,123,051

Name Date Schwartz. Mar' 29, 1949 10 Ford 6t :11. July 11, 1905 Whitman Dec..29, 1914.

Number 8 Name Date Whitman Dec. 12-, 1916 Downey Apr. 9-, 1918' Downey May 11, 1920 Anderson Aug. 11, 1936 Atwell June 8, 1937 Torres Apr; 5, 1938 Hansell Sept. 30, 1941 Arge 1. Nov. 25, 1941 Atwell Feb. 19, 1952 

